Video

Playback & EntertainmentVLC – The video editor everyone loves. Super fast, plays almost every video format, and has many other hidden features – from video format compression to streaming podcasts. (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS)Pluto TV – Forget Netflix and cable, Pluto TV is your new best friend. With over a hundred channels – from Cats 24/7 to Science to Baseball, Pluto TV combines the variety of web content with the leanback experience of TV. (Everywhere)(Disclosure: I currently work at Pluto TV)Miro – Just like VLC and also open source, with a beautiful interface. (Windows, Mac, Linux)Kodi (formerly XBMC) – Your personal home theater. (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS)

Productivity

Productivity ToolsWunderlist – The best task-management app ever, period. (Everywhere)Pocket – Found an awesome article but don’t have time to read it? Add it to Pocket with one click and read it later. (Everywhere)OneNote – Microsoft’s free and powerful note manager (Windows/Mac/Android/IOS)Evernote – A must have at this point, Evernote is your personal-everything manager. (Everywhere)Trello – Project management software that will supercharge your productivity, (Web, iOS, Android, Win 8)Pomodoro One – A free time management tool using the famous Pomodoro technique. (Mac)Howl Timer – A time management tool with customizable time slots.Sunrise Calendar – Beautifully designed with numerous integrations (including Google Calendar and Evernote). (Mac, iOS, Android)

For more amazing stuff – free apps, great books, and more useful websites – like us on Facebook. We’re a new website would really appreciate your support!

Messaging

Slack – Say goodbye to email. Slack is a one-stop solution to all your messaging needs in and out of the workplace.Adium – Cross platform IM client.Pidgin – The ‘universal chat client’. Works with everything from Google Talk to IRC.Telegram – Alternative to WhatsApp. (Android, iOS, Windows Phone)Skype – Free video and audio calling.Viber – Just like Skype.KarmaBox – A tiny utility that sites in your menubar and notifies you when you get new reddit mail. (Mac)

Music

fooBar – My favorite personal music player ever. Don’t be fooled by the not-too-pretty interace. foobar is the fastest, most lightweight and customizable music player available. (Windows)Spotify – Ad-supported free music streaming. (Everywhere)Audacity – Create, record, edit and remix music. Your personal home studio. (Windows, Mac, Linux)Pandora – Like Spotify for radio.Rdio Radio and on-demand streaming, available in more countries than Spotify and Pandora.

Utilities

Everything Search – The fastest search for your computer, ever. Find anything in miliseconds. (Windows)Flux – Protect your eyes by automatically adjusting your screen’s brightness according to the time of day. (Windows, Mac, Linux)Dashlane – The best password manager ever made – it is an even better alternative than its many paid counterparts. Nothing is stored in the cloud and everything is encrypted – and the best part, it’s all cross-platform. (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)
Ccleaner – The best tool to clean your computer, manage startup programs, and so much more. An essential. (Windows, Mac, Android)BetterTouchTool – This will change your life. Open apps, close tabs, dock windows, delete files – all without lifting a finger from the touchpad. If you had to get only one app for the Mac, let it be this one. (Mac)TreeSize – Scans your computer and visualizes exactly where and which apps are using up your disk space. (Windows)DaisyDisk – Like TreeSize, except for Mac. (Mac)Alfred – Search files and web, open apps and so much more. (Mac)7-Zip – Zipping and unzipping software that is truly free – no nagging trial periods. (Windows)The Unarchiver – 7-Zip for Mac. (Mac)Calibre – Complete e-book manager, convertor and reader. (Windows, Mac, Linux)App Cleaner – Completely uninstall apps and their hidden files with one click. (Mac)Rocketdock – Get a Mac OSX-like dock for your Windows computer. (Windows)Rainmeter – Completely customize and transform your desktop with skins, weather forecast, app launchers, quotes, and more. (Windows)FileZilla – The best FTP client. (Windows, Mac)Dropbox – The essential file backup solution. (Everywhere)Memory Clean – Keep your RAM use under control with one click. (Mac)coconutBattery – Track your Macbook’s battery health. (Mac)Jing – Capture screencasts or screenshots and share them instantly. (Windows, Mac)FastStone Capture – Image capture with a full-page (scrolling) screen capture feature. (Windows)

Playback & EntertainmentVLC – The video editor everyone loves. Super fast, plays almost every video format, and has many other hidden features – from video format compression to streaming podcasts. (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS)Pluto TV – Forget Netflix and cable, Pluto TV is your new best friend. With over a hundred channels – from Cats 24/7 to Science to Baseball, Pluto TV combines the variety of web content with the leanback experience of TV. (Everywhere)Miro – Just like VLC and also open source, with a beautiful interface. (Windows, Mac, Linux)Kodi (formerly XBMC) – Your personal home theater. (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS)

Productivity

Productivity ToolsWunderlist – The best task-management app ever, period. (Everywhere)Pocket – Found an awesome article but don’t have time to read it? Add it to Pocket with one click and read it later. (Everywhere)OneNote – Microsoft’s free and powerful note manager (Windows/Mac/Android/IOS)Evernote – A must have at this point, Evernote is your personal-everything manager. (Everywhere)Trello – Project management software that will supercharge your productivity, (Web, iOS, Android, Win 8)Pomodoro One – A free time management tool using the famous Pomodoro technique. (Mac)Howl Timer – A time management tool with customizable time slots.Sunrise Calendar – Beautifully designed with numerous integrations (including Google Calendar and Evernote). (Mac, iOS, Android)

Messaging

Slack – Say goodbye to email. Slack is a one-stop solution to all your messaging needs in and out of the workplace. (Everywhere)Adium – Cross platform IM client. (Everywhere)Pidgin – The ‘universal chat client’. Works with everything from Google Talk to IRC. (Everywhere)Telegram – Alternative to WhatsApp. (Android, iOS, Windows Phone)Skype – Free video and audio calling. (Everywhere)Viber – Just like Skype. (Everywhere)KarmaBox – A tiny utility that sites in your menubar and notifies you when you get new reddit mail. (Mac)

Music

fooBar – My favorite personal music player ever. Don’t be fooled by the not-too-pretty interace. foobar is the fastest, most lightweight and customizable music player available. (Windows)Spotify – Ad-supported free music streaming. (Everywhere)Audacity – Create, record, edit and remix music. Your personal home studio. (Windows, Mac, Linux)Pandora – Like Spotify for radio.Rdio Radio and on-demand streaming, available in more countries than Spotify and Pandora.

Utilities

Everything Search – The fastest search for your computer, ever. Find anything in miliseconds. (Windows)Flux – Protect your eyes by automatically adjusting your screen’s brightness according to the time of day. (Windows, Mac, Linux)Dashlane – The best password manager ever made – it is an even better alternative than its many paid counterparts. Nothing is stored in the cloud and everything is encrypted – and the best part, it’s all cross-platform. (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)
Ccleaner – The best tool to clean your computer, manage startup programs, and so much more. An essential. (Windows, Mac)BetterTouchTool – This will change your life. Open apps, close tabs, dock windows, delete files – all without lifting a finger from the touchpad. If you had to get only one app for the Mac, let it be this one. (Mac)TreeSize – Scans your computer and visualizes exactly where and which apps are using up your disk space. (Windows)DaisyDisk – Like TreeSize, except for Mac. (Mac)Alfred – Search files and web, open apps and so much more. (Mac)7-Zip – Zipping and unzipping software that is truly free – no nagging trial periods. (Windows)The Unarchiver – 7-Zip for Mac. (Mac)Calibre – Complete e-book manager, convertor and reader. (Windows, Mac, Linux)App Cleaner – Completely uninstall apps and their hidden files with one click. (Mac)Rocketdock – Get a Mac OSX-like dock for your Windows computer. (Windows)Rainmeter – Completely customize and transform your desktop with skins, weather forecast, app launchers, quotes, and more. (Windows)FileZilla – The best FTP client. (Windows, Mac)Dropbox – The essential file backup solution. (Everywhere)Memory Clean – Keep your RAM use under control with one click. (Mac)coconutBattery – Track your Macbook’s battery health. (Mac)Jing – Capture screencasts or screenshots and share them instantly. (Windows, Mac)FastStone Capture – Image capture with a full-page (scrolling) screen capture feature. (Windows)

For more amazing stuff – free apps, great books, and more useful websites – like us on Facebook. We’re a new website would really appreciate your support!

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Ruchita Bamane

My name is Ruchita and I'm on a quest to be better, smarter and happier. The Unlearner is home to this grand experiment: a curious laboratory full of exciting ideas, great books, and a wealth of resources. Interested? Learn more or join me in this epic adventure.

I’m surprised to see a list like this without the number one open source software, OpenOffice.org. It’s probably been around longer than most everything else on your list and it can replace so many other products.

Thanks Ruchita Bamane for the huge list of alternatives to paid applications, I want to open a Digital Photo studio in town so for this i need Photoshop but it cost me i found GIMP as good source as free hope it works for me and help me to grow my business.

Move up from Jing and use My Screen Recorder. It is one of the best screen recording software. It records your screen and audio from the speakers or your voice from the microphone – or both simultaneously. The recordings are clear and look great when played back on your website, uploaded to YouTube or used in your presentation. One thing often overlooked – It will record directly to standard compressed format that works with any video editor or any tool, no conversion required. And, the file sizes are small, making them easy to upload or distribute.